Epictetus (c 50 - c 135 AD), the greek philosopher, has written a wonderful book with short, yet poignant chapters called the “Enchiridion.” Enchiridion translates to: A book containing essential information on a subject.[1]
Epictetus, being a founding stoic, is writing about a particular type of living called, Stoicism.
Here’s a chapter I want to focus on:
Chapter 9
“Sickness is a problem for the body, not the mind – unless the mind decides that is a problem. Lameness, too, is the body’s problem, not the minds. Say this to yourself whatever the circumstance and you will find without fail that the problem pertains to something else, not to you.” [2]
What strikes me most about this chapter is the separation of mind and body. What is the source of the problem? If it’s the body, then the solution is part and parcel of the body. That is, don’t entwine your “self” in only the physical. You’re more than that unless your mind decides you’re not…
The final statement that whatever the circumstances the problem pertains to something else, not you – this isn’t a relinquishment of responsibility. This is a way to remind us to focus on what we can control. Usually, the only thing we can control is our own self, our mind.
There are many demonstrable things about our body that we can’t control – digestion, for example. Our autonomic nervous system regulates heart beating, as well. We can influence these things (IE: Eat a hot tamale or exercise rigorously and you will have succeeded).
As a personal trainer for the last 22 years this Chapter attracts my attention because I’ve been helping people work through their “body” problems and I can tell you that their mind is primary in the solution.
The “mind” defined by Oxford dictionary as:
MIND
/mīnd/
noun
1.
the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought.
Consciousness.
This is a significantly different distinction, one that I think Epictetus is alluding when he talks about separating the mind and body. Consciousness = mind or self.
What is Consciousness?
A working definition of Consciousness equates to being in a state of awareness. But that’s vague.
I remember in 10th grade biology class, Mr. Nale telling us that Life could not be defined, only described. That blew my mind. After living these last 35+ years reading books, studying philosophy, and debating others I concur – life can only be described, not defined.
But how do you determine if something is awake or alert? In practicum, alertness would seem easy to see. My eyes are open – but that doesn’t mean I’m alert. I once fell asleep and had a full dream with my eyes open. Crazy, but true. I couldn’t duplicate those conditions, but they happened.
How could you measure alertness / awareness in a machine? Does a machine demonstrate consciousness? How about a blade of grass? I think you see the conundrum.
Consciousness and Identity are deeply connected. How aware we are of ourselves; our environment and other people have literally taken people / organisms out of the evolutionary ladder of reproduction because of a lack of alertness to threats to their livelihood.
In Epictetus fashion, the “You” and the “Mind” are one, and the body is subservient to the Mind or You.
So: when he says that the problem isn’t a problem for a person until they choose to make it (Ie: The mind) what he’s saying is that problems are only problems if you see it that way or are alert to it.
In my interpretation of stoicism, the push -pull of when to rigorously accept the world / circumstances / other people is juxtaposed with making the problems of the world / circumstances / other people our problem – it’s when the mind makes the choice to do so.
The only problem is influence. The only thing we truly have control over is our own mind, our reactions / choices.
We may have influence on others but only as role models or living examples to demonstrate our ideas. Acta, non-Verba. (Actions, not words).
Epictetus was a slave who, when emancipated, taught philosophy. His general concern was not to be affected by outside events: to meet them dispassionately but to be rigorously responsible for our own selves - our mind & arguably our body in so far as our actions, thoughts, and words. Acta, non-Verba.
[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=enchiridion+meaning&client=safari&sca_esv=bf00611389a0b66e&sxsrf=AE3TifNHgWW_U93WpOSa3eDe6MnDWL7L7A%3A1752600207510&source=hp&ei=j452aP3iHOXakPIP-6zxgAY&iflsig=AOw8s4IAAAAAaHacn6BGd810cbbZPu8c6jEs_5PnKq_L&oq=enchiridan&gs_lp=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_AFwgcFMC4xLjnIByw&sclient=gws-wiz
[2] Epictetus/Seneca/Marcus Aurelius, “How to Be a Stoic,” translated to English by Robert Dobbin (Penguin Random House, 2008, pg. 5
This is fascinating. I haven’t read enough of the stoics, though I’ve been studying their contemporaries in the east. Hindus believe that the mind is destiny because there are two primary forces in life: there is your karma and what you choose to do with it. Stronger your mind, stronger your ability to endure, rise, ride the tempests of life. It seems the common thread is mindfulness—the anchor is between the ears— and a mind grasping the bigger picture puts less stress on the body. All is connected. Thanks for the morning food for thought.